Sofa bed construction



J. PILIERO SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION Aug. 20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l FiledFeb. 11, 1954 Aug.2o,19s1 J. HERO 2,803,018

' SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 11. 1954 1 4 'sheets-sheet 2 in U v NIN1/13mm {l/41E; ,QL/ego Aug. 20, 1957 J. PILIERO 2,803,018

soFA BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb 11. 1954 4 sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 20, 1957 J. PILIERO 2,803,018

K SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. l1,- 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VENTOR. dfi/IE5 1914/5490 BY A fwd@ fra/@ver United States Patent O SOFABED CONSTRUCTION James Piliero, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The EnglanderI.

Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Dela= ware ApplicationFebruary 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,563

Claims. (Cl. 5--13) This invention relates to furniture of the typewhich is useful both as a couch or seat, and as a bed.

An object of the inventiony is to provide an article i Another object ofthe invention is to provide meansl adapted to engage the sectionalstructure and move one of the sections thereof downwardly into fullycollapsed relation within the furniture frame and to retain the sameagainst independent upward movement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide retaining tensi-onedmeans carried by the furniture frame which has downward movement withthe collapsing or the sectional structure to move the outer sectionthereof downwardly against the folded end portion of the mattresslocated within the -folded sectional structure and to retain the outersection against independent upward movement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an article offurniture of -said character in which the furniture frame is supportedby the sectional structure whereby the weight on the sectional structureis transmitted to the oor or supporting surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sectionalstructure of the character described having leg members for supportingthe same when in extended relation and which leg members and thesections are connected together by an improved linkage system foreffecting swinging of the sections together with the leg members intofolded relation within the article of furni ture.

. With the foregoing and other objects in View, reference is now made tothe following specification and accompany ing drawings in which thepreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an article of furnitureconstructed in accordance with the invention with the sectionalstructure shown in extended relation and the furniture frame in verticalsection.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the outer Vsection of the sectionalstructure in partially foldedrelation.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing two of the outer sections in foldedrelation.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the sectional structure in partiallycollapsedrelation within the furniture frame and in position forengagement by the retaining means.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 in which the outer section of thesectional structure is shown in its downward Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional view .taken approximately on line 8--8 of Fig. l.

Patented Aug. 20, 1957 ice 2 The article of furniture includes afurniture frame A, la. sectional structure B constituting a seat and bedforming frame, and a retaining means indicated generally by thereference character C for retaining the sectional structure B in foldedseat forming relation within the furniture frame A.

The furniture frame A consists of opposite side walls 10 and 11, a rearwall 12,' a rigid front panel 13 connected between the side walls 10 and11 and a movable front wall 14 carried by the sectional structure B andwhich is moved with the sectional structure to a lposition above thefront panel 1,3 when the sectional structure is in collapsed relationwithin the furniture frame as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. '4 lvThe sectional structure B consists of a plurality of hingedly'connectedsections and as illustrated, the same includes an inner section 15, anouter section 16 and two intermediate sections 17 and 18. The innersection 15 and intermediate section 18 are disposed in spaced uprightrelation within the furniture frame when the sectional structure ishincollapsed relation therein while the outer section 16 and theintermediate section 17 are disposed in spaced substantially horizontalrelation for receiving one or more seat cushions on the outer section 16when the sectional structure is'in said collapsed relation within thefurniture frame. The outer section 16 is relatively shorter than theintermediate section 17, while the intermediate section 18 is relativelyshorter than the inner section 15 and disposes the outer section 16 andintermediate section 17 in spaced apart relation for receiving amattress D in foldedrelation therebetween. l

The inner section 15 includes oppositely disposed angle iron side rails20 and 2 1 which are connected at their inner ends by a cross member 22and' intermediate their ends by across memberA 23. The intermediatesection 17 includes oppositely disposed angle niron side rails 24 and 25which are pivotally connected to the side rails 20and 21 of the innerVsection by pivot pins 26 extending through the vertical flangesthereof. The intermediate section 18 includes oppositely disposed angleiron side rails 27 and y28 which are pivotally connected to the siderails 24 and 25 on pivot pins 29 extending through the vertical flangesthereof. The outer section 16 includes oppositely disposed angle ironside rails 30 and 31 which are connected at their outer ends by a crossmember 32 and are pivotally connected to the side rails 27 and 28 of theintermediate section 18 by pivot pins 33.

The sectional structure B is supported in extended relation by pairs oflegs 35 and 36 which'are pivotally connected to the side rails of theouter section 16 and intermediate section v17 on pivot pins 37 and 38respectively. In lorder to effect collapsing of the legs 35 with thefolding o-f the sections, links 39 and 40 are provided at each sidewhich are pivoted on pivot pins 41 and 42 respectively to plates 43aixed to the upper ends of the legs 35. At their inner ends the links 39are pivoted to the side rails 27 and 28 of the intermediate section 18on pivot pins'44 whileat their inner ends the links 40 are pivoted onpivot pins 45 to triangular shaped side members 46 which latter membersare pivoted to the side rails 30 and 31 on` pivot pins 47.

The front wall 14 is disposed beneath the outer section 16 when thesectional structure B is extended for use as a bed and said front wallis moved with the sectional structure into position between the oppositeside walls 10 and 11 of the furniture frame A when the sectionalstructure is disposed in collapsed relation within, the'furniture framefor use as a couch or seat. For this purpose, links 50 are pivoted attheir upper ends to the links 39 on pivot pins 51 and at their lowerends said links 50 are pivoted on pivot pins 5 2 to brackets l53 aflixedto said front'wall this purpose, the legs are formed with slots 59 inwhich pins 60 aixed to the lower ends of the links 57 Eare ,mounted forsliding movement. Links 62 -are pivoted at their lower ends to the legs36 on pivotvpins 63 and at their upper ends are pivotally connected tobent links 64 by pivot pins 65. The links 64 are pivotally-connected uon pivot pins 66 to short straps-67 riveted or otherwise affixed to theside rails 24 and 25. At their lower ends the .links 64 are pivoted onpivotpins 69 to flat bars70 affixed to the opposite side walls 10 and.llladjacent the bottom of the furniture frame A. ,A cross ,bar 72 isconnected f between the links 64 to retain the links against spreading.Links 73 are arranged against the inside faces of the vertical flangesof the side rails 24 and 25 and are pivoted thereto at their outerends-on the .pivot pins `-58 and at their inner ends the said linksareprovided with headed pins 74 which extend through and have slidingengagement in longitudinally extending slots 75 in the vertical flangesof said side rails.

The sectional structure B is provided with means such as a fabric springsecured to the inwardly directed anges of the side rails thereof and tothe cross members 22 and.32 at the ends thereof for supporting themattress D thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The sectional structure B is connected with the furniture frame A forswinging movement to dispose the inner section 15 in upright relationand the remaining sections `in collapsed relation as hereinbeforedescribed by means of bent links 77 which are securedagainst the insidefaces of the vertical flanges of the side rails and 21 and at the upperends the said links are vpivoted on pivot pins 79 to flat bars 80 whichare aflixed to the inside faces Vof the side walls 10 and 11 of thefurniture frame and, at their lower ends to the flat bars 70. V Flatbars 83 are aixed at their upper ends to the fiatbars V80 andvat theirlower ends are aixed to the inner ends of the flat bars 70.

The retaining means C includes reciprocatory barsu88 mounted for guidedmovement in openings 89 in brackets 90 aixed to the iiat bars 80intermediate the ends thereof.

,At their lower ends the bars S8 are pivoted to levers 91 on pivot pins92, `the outer ends of the levers y91 being pivoted on pivot pins 93 tothe flat bars 70. Coiled springs V95 are affixed at their upper ends tothe brackets 90 respectively and at their lower vends are affixed to thelevers 91 for maintaining the said levers together with the recipro--catory bars 8S in uppermost position when the sectional structure B isin bed forming relation as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Coiledsprings 96 are secured at their upper ends to the bent links 77 and attheir lower ends to the inner ends of the hat bars 70. The lattersprings are tensioned by the downward movement of the sectionalstructure B into folded relation within the furniture frame A wherebythe said springs facilitate the upward swinging of the sectionalstructure in the movement thereof from the couch or seat position to thebed position.

The opposite side rails 24 and 25 of the intermediate section 17 areprovided with side members 98 which are affixed to the outer facesthereof to project outwardly therefrom so as to engage rollers 99pivotally mounted on the levers 91 for swinging the levers downwardlyagainst the tension of the springs 95 with the downward move ment of thesection structure B from the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings tothe position shown in, Fig. 6 thereof within the furniture frame A. Thismoves the bars S8 downwardly so that the inwardly directed upper ends14MB thereof engage brackets f101 aflixed to the outer end of the outersection 16 which is then moved downwardly with the bars -Suandretained'in downward position within the furniture frame as shown inFig. 6 of the drawings. v'The rollers 99 are retained beneath the sidemembers 98 so that the upper ends 14N) of the bars E?, retain the outersection 16 against upward movement and the mattress D in tightly foldedrelation within the collapsed sectional structure B for supportingcushions on the outer section 16 so that the article yof furniture maybe used as a couch or seat.

In folding the sectional structure B from the bed forming position shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings to the collapsed position within the furniture`frame A as shown in Fig. 6 for supporting one -or more cushions for useas a couch or seat, the outer section 16 is swung into upright relationon the pivotal connections 33 with the section 18. This disposes thelegs 35 in parallel relation with the section 16. The section 1S is thenswung upwardly on the pivotal connections 29 into upright relation withreference ,to the section 17. This disposes the Vouter section 1 6 insubstantially parallel relation with the section 17 and the frontwall.14 in vertical position in -front of the section 18 and themattress D in doubled-over relation Vbetween the sections 16 and 17 asillustrated in Fig. i of the drawings. The section 17 is then swungupwardly on the pivotal connections 66 with the links 64. This alsoeffects a swinging of the links 64 about the pivotal connections 69 withthe furniture frame so as to dispose the outer sections in the inclinedrelation shown in Fig. 5. Continued downward movement of the sectionalstructure effects the engagement of the side members 93 with the rollers99 so as to move the bars downwardly and the inwardly directed upperends 160 thereof into engagement `with the brackets 101 of the outersection 16 and to move the outer section 16 into substantially parallelrelation with the section 17. The outer section 16 is thus helddownwardly against the upward expansive action ofthe folded over Outerend of the mattress D.

The furniture frame'A is rigidly aiiixed at each side to a .supportingframe consisting of the horizontally dis .posedflat bars'7i), thevertical barsi and the diagonally extending bars'S with the bottom ofthe furniture frame spaced above the supporting surface. Headed supportwing screws 163 are provided at each side, the threaded Shanks of whichengage through threaded openings in the inwardly directed lower ends ofangle members 105. rThe Aangle members are riveted or otherwise aixed tothe flat bars 7i) and are located adjacent the opposite cnds'thereof oneach side of the furniture frame. This provides 4means by which theweight on the sectional structure B when serving as a couch or seat willbe imposed upon the llat bars7A and thence to the supporting screws 103.The supporting screws .103 may be turned in 'the threaded openings inthe angle members 105 for adjusting'the elevation of the sectionalstructure B with reference to the supporting surface. The supportingscrews 103 are adjustable for taking up any irregularity in thesupporting surface whereby thesectional structure B will be supported atfour points and may be maintained in Vlevel formation irrespective ofany irregularity in the supporting surface.

What is claimed is:

l. In a sofabed construction, a `furniture frame, a sectional structureswingably connected with the furniture'frame and composed of a pluralityof sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation formovement from aligned formation to a folded formation within'thefurniture frame with two of the sections disposed inspaeed'substantially horizontal relation, means connecting one :of saidtwo sections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from lsaidaligned formation to lowered 'relation vwiththe movement of the sectionsinto folded relation within the furniture frame, retainingmeansincluding a lever pivoted to saidurniture frame, means carried .by`said lever providing a head projecting inwardly into-overlying relationwith said two sections when in :folded:relationl within the furnitureframe, means tensioning said lever to dispose the same in normalinoperative position, and means carried by one of said two sections andmovable with the downward movement thereof into engagement with saidlever for depressing the lever and moving the head downwardly intoengagement with the uppermost of said two sections for retaining saidtwo sections in folded relation.

2. In a soft bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structureswingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of a pluralityof sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation formovement from aligned formation to a `folded formation within thefurniture frame with two of the sections disposed in spacedsubstantially horizontal relation, means connecting one of said twosections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from saidaligned formation to lowered relation with the movement of the sectionsinto folded relation within the furniture frame, reciprocatory meanscarried by said furniture frame and including a head projecting inwardlyinto overlying relation with said two sections when the sectionalstructure is in folded relation within the furniture frame, meanstensioning said reciprocatory means to dispose the head in normalinoperative position, and means carried by one of said two sections andmovable with the downward movement thereof into engagement with saidreciprocatory means for depressing the same and moving the headdownwardly to retain said two sections in folded relation.

3. In a sofa bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structureadapted for supporting a mattress, said sectional structure beingswingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of a pluralityof sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation formovement with the mattress from aligned formation to a folded formationwithin the furniture frame and with the mattress folded within thefolded sectional structure and with two of the sections disposed inspaced substantially horizontal relation, means connecting one of saidtwo sections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from saidaligned relation to lowered relation with the movement of the sectionsinto folded relation within the furniture frame, retaining meansarranged on both sides of the sectional structure and each including alever pivoted to said furniture frame, a bar carried by each leverhaving a laterally projecting upper end, means tensioning said levers todispose the same in normal inoperative position, and means carried byone of said two sections on each side thereof and movable with thefolding thereof into engagement with said levers for depressing thelevers and moving the bars downwardly and the upper ends thereof intoengagement with the uppermost of said two sections for -retaining thesame in folded relation against the expansive action of the foldedmattress.

4. In a sofa bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structureswingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of foursections pivotally connected together in end to end relation formovement from aligned formation to a folded relation in which one of thesections is disposed above another in spaced apart substantiallyhorizontal relation', means connecting one of said last mentionedsections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from saidaligned relation to lowered relation Within the furniture frame with themovement of the sections into folded relation, retaining means includinga lever pivoted to said furniture frame, means carried by said lverproviding a head projecting inwardly into overlying relation with saidlast mentioned sections when the sectional structure is in foldedrelation within the furniture frame, means tensioning said lever todispose the same in normal upper position, and means carried by one ofsaid last mentioned sections and movable with the folding thereof intoengagement with said lever for depressing the lever and moving the headdownwardly for retaining the uppermost of said two last mentionedsections against upward movement.

5. In a sofa bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structureadapted for supporting a mattress, said sectional structure beingswingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of foursections pivotally connected together in end to end relation formovement from aligned formation to a folded relation in which one of thesections is disposed above another in spaced substantially horizontalrelation and with the mattress folded therebetween, means connecting oneof said two last mentioned sections with the furniture frame forswinging movement from said aligned formation to lowered relation withinthe furniture frame with the movement of the sections into foldedrelation, retaining means arranged on both sides of the sectionalstructure and each including a lever pivoted to said furniture frame,bars carried by said levers having laterally projecting heads, meanscarried by the furniture frame providing guides for said barsrespectively, means tensioning said levers to dispose the same ininoperative position, and means carried by one of said two lastmentioned sections on each side thereof and movable with the foldingthereof into engagement with said levers for depressing fhe levers formoving the bars together with the heads downwardly for depressing theuppermost of said two last mentioned sections and retaining the sameagainst the upward eX- pansion of the folded mattress.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS587,489 Patten Aug. 3, 1897 1,011,440 Karpen Dec. 12, 1911 1,078,909Fischrupp Nov. 18, 1913 2,353,329 Woller July l1, 1944 2,595,038 WollerApr. 29, 1952 2,634,428 Fox Apr. 14, 1953 2,642,583 Bank et al. June 23,1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 386,433 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1933

